The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as the early leaders in the race to sign veteran guard Derek Fisher after he clears waivers Wednesday, according to sources close to the situation. With the Chicago Bulls needing another big man more than another guard and the San Antonio Spurs still hopeful they can complete the signing of guard Patrick Mills by week's end, sources told ESPN.com that Miami and Oklahoma City are the current front-runners to land Fisher, who was formally waived Monday night by the Houston Rockets. ESPN.com

The Heat explored the possibility of signing Fisher when he was a free agent in the summer of 2010 and have strong interest again now, sources say, even if they are successful in signing veteran forward Ronny Turiaf this week. Miami has only one open roster spot at present, but rookie shooting guard Terrel Harris hasn't played in six weeks and thus looms as a potential candidate to make way if the Heat need to make room for both Fisher and Turiaf, who was just waived by Denver. ESPN.com